Lots of potential answers, other than the unprovable "Dems are just better".
1) Dem coalition structurally gains more from redistribution
2) Parties reflect their leaders
3) Dems just earlier in process of becoming fixated on symbolic politics to the exclusion of concrete policy
One could argue, for example, that #1 might be shifting towards #3 because of the changing nature of the coalition: with more and more rich people and affluent professionals shifting Demward, Dems have both more to gain and to lose from redistribution, complicating the politics.
At the micro level this manifests as people loudly demand "affordable housing" while coming up with endless reasons that that housing doesn't belong in their neighborhood; supporting racial integration while choosing affluent neighborhoods/schools that perpetuate segregation, etc
At the macro level, it is promises to tax the rich while continually pushing the lower boundary of "rich" northwards toward $500k for a family, and the completely absurd fixation on restoring the highly regressive federal deduction for state and local taxes.
This is not all of the party. But in 2004, Republicans still had some ideas that weren't "Tax cuts and liberal tears". Yet here we are.
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